Woman dies after being trapped in car that plunged off cliff

2006-11-08 21:51:51 PST -- A Byron woman died Wednesday after being trapped for a day inside her overturned car down a cliff off Marsh Creek Road in Contra Costa County, authorities said.

Megan Gaul, 25, of Byron had been reported missing by her family Tuesday night and was discovered only after her uncle hired a helicopter to search for her car, authorities said.

Gaul died as she was being removed by paramedics from the wreckage of her 1991 Toyota, which had come to rest in a creek 100 feet down a cliff off the twisting, hilly road in unincorporated Contra Costa County.

Gaul left home Tuesday morning to go to work in Walnut Creek but failed to arrive. Her family reported her missing Tuesday night. Sheriff's deputies and Highway Patrol officers searched her usual route but did not spot the accident.

Gaul's uncle hired a private helicopter to help search on Wednesday, after being told that the Highway Patrol helicopter would be unable to assist because of fog.